Apparatus and methods for rapid heating and cooling of liquids

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for cooling or heating a liquid in a container. In certain embodiments, the apparatus comprises a first conduit, a second conduit and a pump in fluid communication with the first conduit and the second conduit. The apparatus can also comprise a thermal energy transfer mechanism, where the pump is configured to transfer the liquid from the container to the thermal energy transfer mechanism via the first conduit, the thermal energy transfer mechanism is configured to cool or heat the liquid, and the pump is configured to transfer the liquid from the thermal energy transfer mechanism to the container via the second conduit.

1 . An apparatus for cooling or heating a liquid in a container, the apparatus comprising:
 a first conduit;   a second conduit;   a pump in fluid communication with the first conduit and the second conduit; and   a thermal energy transfer mechanism, wherein:
 the pump is configured to transfer the liquid from the container to the thermal energy transfer mechanism via the first conduit; 
 the thermal energy transfer mechanism is configured to cool or heat the liquid; and 
 the pump is configured to transfer the liquid from the thermal energy transfer mechanism to the container via the second conduit. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the thermal energy transfer mechanism comprises:
 a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first conduit and the second conduit; and 
 a reservoir. 
 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein:
 the pump in fluid communication with the first conduit and the second conduit is a first pump; 
 the apparatus further comprises a second pump; and 
 the second pump is configured to circulate a thermal energy transfer fluid through the heat exchanger. 
 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  further comprising a heater in fluid communication with the second pump and the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein:
 the thermal energy transfer fluid is contained in the reservoir; and 
 the thermal energy transfer fluid is colder than the liquid in the container. 
 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the heater is configured to heat the thermal energy transfer fluid to a temperature that is hotter than the liquid in the container. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6  further comprising a plurality of control valves configured to:
 control a first flow of the thermal energy transfer fluid from the reservoir, through the second pump and heat exchanger and back to the reservoir; and 
 control a second flow of the thermal energy transfer fluid from the pump, through the heater and heat exchanger and back to the second pump. 
 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first actuator configured to insert and retract the first conduit into the container; and 
 a second actuator configured to insert and retract the second conduit into the container. 
 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the reservoir comprises an inlet and an outlet. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein:
 the inlet is in fluid communication with a fluid source; and 
 the fluid source comprises at least one of a hot fluid source or a cold fluid source. 
 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12  further comprising at least one of:
 a temperature sensor configured to monitor the temperature of the fluid in the first conduit or the temperature of the fluid in the container; and 
 a control valve configured to control a flow of fluid from the fluid source. 
 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising one or more heat transfer elements in a fluid in the reservoir. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the one or more heat transfer elements comprise ice. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the one or more heat transfer elements comprise a heating element. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 18  further comprising a stirring mechanism. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the stirring mechanism is configured to stir the heat transfer elements and the fluid within the reservoir. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising at least one of:
 a first temperature sensor configure to monitor the temperature of the fluid in the second conduit; and 
 a second temperature sensor configured to monitor the temperature of the fluid in the reservoir. 
 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a container comprising a cleaning fluid. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein the apparatus is configured to circulate the cleaning fluid through the first conduit, the second conduit, the pump and the thermal energy transfer mechanism. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a controller configured to control operation of the apparatus, wherein the controller comprises an on/off selector, a temperature set point controller, a temperature set point display and a clean cycle selector. 
     
     
         29 .- 31 . (canceled)